An advanced UR5 solution helps to create the future of medicine

In short:

AGH turned to UR to help develop a high precision tool that could be used in the operating theatre to introduce stem cells into the body. The UR solution was chosen due to its ability to mimic the human range of motion and could be used in different applications once this deployment was complete. Thanks to the collaborative robot, AGH now has the ability to automate a variety of tasks with quick reprogramming.

Challenge:AGHis working on designing a specialized robotic station for gyno-urological interventions. The robot’s job is to introduce stem cells into the body in a manner much more precise than possible by human hand.

A human hand, while very exact, cannot be relied on to make the same movements again and again without eventually making errors – no matter how small. AGH needed a high precision robotic solution that could replicate the same movements time and time again with minimal deviance from the control.

The second project being implemented by the AGH University is the creation of a station for the mixing of cytotoxic drugs – medicines used in anti-cancer chemotherapy. The job of the robot will be to improve the efficiency of preparation of cytotoxic drugs. Currently this task can be carried out exclusively in specialised hospital pharmacies with staff that, due to high toxicity of the substance used in manufacturing of this kind of drugs, may work in such environment only for a few hours at a time.

Solution:The UR5 device was selected for its ease of operation and extreme precision giving the possibility to program movements with a resolution of +/- 0.1 mm; manually guiding the robot into the required position.

Another key reason for selecting the UR5 is the gravity compensation function. “We have opted for the UR5 robot from Universal Robots due to its unique features, including the gravity compensation function that prevents it from shifting position even when it is switched off. This is particularly important when using robots for testing the trajectory of hand movements in interventions requiring precision, accuracy and safety” said Grzegorz Karpiel Ph.D. Eng., Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at AGH.

After completion of the project on gyno-urological intervention station, the UR5 robot will remain at the University, where it will be used for teaching purposes. Universal Robots made it possible for students to use the robot even more extensively with the ability to program additional functions in individual projects. This presents the scientific personnel and future generation of engineers with a unique opportunity to keep developing their skills and create innovative solutions.

Company facts

Company Name:

AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland

Country:

Poland

Company size:

4,151 employees

Products:

Medical processing

Industry:

Scientific research & education

Tasks:

Lab testing

Automation challenges solved:

Mixing station for hazardous cytotoxic drugs and testing for more precise gyno-urological procedures.

AGH turned to UR to help develop a high precision tool that could be used in the operating theatre to introduce stem cells into the body. The UR solution was chosen due to its ability to mimic the human range of motion and could be used in different applications once this deployment was complete. Thanks to the collaborative robot, AGH now has the ability to automate a variety of tasks with quick reprogramming.